Grant: CIHR New Investigator

The growth and survival of cancer cells are governed by cellular signaling networks built on a framework of protein-protein interactions. One such interaction, the binding of a DNA-associated protein called H3K27me3 with another partner called polycomb, has been shown to shut down the operation of several cellular control circuits that normally serve to prevent abnormal cell growth. The results is catastrophic... cells in which this interaction is occurring can become cancer cells of many different varieties (breast, prostate, brain, blood, and many more). We have discovered a chemical that stops this interaction from occurring. It is the only chemical that has ever been reported that stops H3K27me3 and polycomb from binding to each other. We are asking for funding to further develop this investigative lead into more potent and more selective versions. The cancer research community has flagged this type of interaction as the target for "cancer treatments of the future," and we hope that our exploration of the potency and activity of our new compounds will form the basis for the future development of an entirely new classes of cancer therapies.